Here are more details about the nuts and bolts aspect of Alisa’s project. Let get this thing networked. It’s time.
Dear Friends,
This summer, I embarked on a new project that I want to share with you. In a nutshell, I am reimagining Modern Hebrew language instruction. I believe my vision is timely, and doable with community support.
With the goal of improving our kids’ Hebrew learning experience, I received a grant through the Community Foundation for Jewish Education (CFJE), which allowed me to start training Hebrew teachers in teaching with comprehensible input (T/CI). Comprehensible Input (CI) refers to brain-friendly language instruction that is understandable to the learner, and focuses on meaning and interest. Aimed at beginning-through- intermediate-level students, classes are conducted almost exclusively in conversational Hebrew. T/CI is engaging, fun and effective, employing collaborative ‘story spinning,’ improvisation and acting, and exploits Hebrew’s most practical, high- frequency words.
I’ve started a blog to share my instructional resources and reflections at cmovan.edublogs.org. I invite you to follow and join the conversation by posting responses and questions! Also, please forward this letter to as many friends, acquaintances and contacts you may know who are involved or interested in Hebrew instruction, whether they are affiliated with temple-based supplementary school, day school, ulpan, university or adult conversational classes. This list may include rabbis, classroom teachers, educational directors, administrators and students, etc.
I hope to foster enlightening discussions around Modern Hebrew language instruction, through this platform, wherever my readers reside, and whatever native language they speak
In the few short weeks I’ve been teaching Hebrew classes to 3rd through 7th graders at my temple, the response has been overwhelmingly positive from kids, parents, teachers and the community. I’ll continue to model teacher lessons, until our faculty feels sufficiently confident to take over. I will also coach and mentor our faculty throughout the year
I hope to train additional groups of Hebrew teachers who are interested in learning to teach with comprehensible input in the coming months, hopefully in a workshop or conference setting.
Thanks in advance for your support in helping me spread the word, and feel free to contact me directly at this special email address: cmovanhebrew@gmail.com.
Sincerely,
Alisa Shapiro-Rosenberg
Comprehensible Hebrew